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The People
Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanised states of India, but it is still
primarily rural. Most of the people live in more than 64,000 nucleated
villages. There is an established caste system,
and the traditional differentiations here are a lot more pronounced than
in many other parts of the country. The largest distribution of
population is mostly confined to the Chennai metropolitan covering industrial
areas, townships and villages surrounding Chennai city, and those around
Madurai, Coimbatore, and Tiruchchirappalli. More
than 80% of the state's population follows Hinduism. Christianity and
Islam are also followed here.
The Brahmins which forms the highest caste normally is distinguishable
with a religious white mark on their forehead.
Earlier their work used to be confined to religious activities
and astrological profession. They were almost wholly dependent on villages
gifted to them by successive kings. Simple living and high thinking was
their way of life.
Communities
such as Vellalas (known as Gounders in Coimbatore, Mudaliars in Chingleput
and other areas, Pillais in Thirunelveli district) took to a large scale
agriculture, they supervised agriculture operations and they
had their income through sale of the produce. The Village -traders
belonged to a few Vaishya communities such as Komutti Chettiars.
Shaanaars,
who were toddy - tappers since independence emerged as a prosperous
mercantile community by their enterprise. The untouchables have been the
main agricultural labourers. These communities did the job assigned
to them and eked out their livelihood. In each village, there were
dhobis and barbers.
Tribes have had a special place in Tamil history.
There was a classification of tribes according to landscapes. The chieftain of
each tribal group and his wife were given an honoured place. In
the mountains, hills and hilly tracts such as Palani hills, the Nilgiris
and the Western Ghats, the distinguished chieftain was known as Poruppan,
Verppan and Cilampan, his spouse was known as Koticci or Kuratti.
The mountain tribe, of which the poruppan was the chieftain was divided
into two main Phratries. The members of the two Phratries were known
as Kanavar and Kurava and spouses Kurattiyar. The
Badagas, Kotas, and Todas are other tribes found in the Nilgiri hills.
In
the Thanjavur deltaic area, the leader of the settlement is known
as Makilnam or Uran and his wife is called Manaive or Kilatti. The members
of this rich agricultural settlement were ulavar with their Ulattiyar
and Kataiyar with their Kataicciyar. In the coastal region,
the tribal chief was known as Cerppan or Pulampan and his
wife as Paratti or Nulaicci.
The pattern and lay out of streets, houses and community centres
was the same every where in 
Tamil Nadu. Each village
was built around or near a temple and the priests who were
invariably Brahmins lived in the areas called 'Agraharam'.
Adjoining them lived Pillais and Mudaliars. Trading communities
had their habitation in the area next to these central streets. The untouchables
lived on the outskirts of the village.
Orthodoxy and conservatism are now giving place to rationalism.
The village and town plans are rapidly changing. Some
of the Agraharams are occupied in part of people of other caste.
Followers of religions other than Hinduism used to live in groups
either out side the village or in clusters on a portion. The festivals
bring all the castes together. Each caste has a role
to play in the conduct of the festival. |
